Why is it important to choose the right work boots for construction?

Its no secret, the construction industry is harsh; you will often find yourself working on all kinds of surfaces; wet, dry, hard, soft, muddy- in fact, The only thing that is constant is the daily battering which your work boots will receive!

So, which features are most important to construction workers when choosing there boots?

Make sure your boots tick these 3 boxes before you set foot on a construction site:

Durability- you’ll need an insanely tough pair of boots so they don’t fall apart on you after a few months.

To keep safe on the job site, Your going to need steel safety toes, anti-puncture lining, and solid ankle support- which comes from a shank (made from steel, or lightweight materials such as nylon or fiberglass). Its a good idea to check up with your employer on the features your boots will need in order to pass safety codes.

So your boots are keeping your feet protected, but how freely are you able to move around in them? Make sure you choose a boot which is not too restricting, because, you’ll be bending, lifting, throwing etc.

Tip: Don’t panic if your new boots feel a little stiff. Since construction work boots are made for tough conditions, they will usually require a ‘breaking in period’ which means they will take a few weeks to soften up and mold to the shape of your feet. The tougher the boot; the longer the break in period. Hang in there.

To avoid slips, trips and falls (which unfortunately are too common in construction) Deep traction on the soles will help you in moving over those uneven terrains confidently. A well defined heel will also add to your general stability.

The durability rating of your boots is critical; they will be under constant attack from the elements, you don’t want to replace them every two months, do you now? Full-grain leather is king when it comes to long-lasting boots; it will simply outlast any other material (especially in harsh environment’s) and its also water resistant. Avoid boots made out of nylon at all costs.

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Jonathan

I first want to say that I love your site. I don’t want you to take my second comment the wrong way as the “Construction” that you are referring to in this article might be a bit kinder and gentler and softer than the Construction that I do. Maybe an “Industrial Construction” Article could be forth coming for the harder construction? I am a Union Boilermaker Certified Welder. I also do permit work for the Iron Workers and Pipe Fitters when our work is slow. On top of that I am a large athletic man (6’3″) 235-240 lbs (Size 13 wide-extra wide). I have noticed that being large and athletic coupled with the abuse of my work puts forces and conditions on boots that most “work” boots are not up for. I have been doing this type of work for about 15 years and I have been through probably 50 pairs of boots but the duration of a pair of boots is lasting longer as time goes on because I am constantly on a quest for tougher, stronger, more comfortable boots that can handle, well, me. I Started out my career like every one else buying cheep boots and found quickly that they lasted a week or two before catastrophic failure. I then went to Red Wings and proceeded to kill 7 pairs in 3 years and for 2 and a half years they killed me back. I have worn caterpillar, Timberland Pro, Carolina, Georgia, and a bunch of other brands. Thorogoods held up pretty well for a while (Almost a year) after an Iron Worker sold me on the wedge soul but still not long enough. I resigned my self to these facts. 1) I would have to put rubber toe caps on every new pair I got. 2) lases and stitching burned always. 3) 3.5 lases where a must because fire falls in pull on boots 4) I tore lugs off soles like a mud tire hitting a sharp rock constantly and on top of that soles cracked, split, separated from the upper, melted, or otherwise failed quickly. 5) Water proof was like new car smell and it faded in no time. and 5) that if they lasted 7-12 months it was a really good pair of boots… Until… I happened across the boots that I am looking to replace now. I have worn these boots for 6 years now and never even had to have them resoled. I have been so impressed that I am sort of keeping track of the work hours I put on them. Roughly 10,000 hours Boilermaking and around 1,200 hours pipe welding and Iron Working. I am replacing them now because they don’t have a lot of life left and because I am tired of looking at them especially with shoe goo peeling everywhere like a lizard molting. Things that have gone wrong with them are About 6 months ago the water proofing failed after heavy exposure to lime over a couple weeks (Doused them in vinegar to neutralize it, Covered stitches and seams with shoe goo and they wore on), Laces burned a lot, Leather laces broke more frequently causing me to come up with my current solution (Bottom 6 holes are tie wire connected to leather laces shoved through para cord outer sleeve and hot wax soaked for the top hooks) And the insulation has started coming apart inside forcing me to do battle to get them off. They are also about to break away from the soul on the lower outer uppers. 6 years though! The boots are Timberland Pro Gravel Pit 10″ And now that I am looking to replace them I just discovered that they are “Mining” Boots. I am looking at other “Mining” boots or something as tough and comfortable but I wanted your opinion as to any normal construction boots that might be lighter and as comfortable but just as tough or tougher? I also wanted to brag on them about there stellar performance from the position of some one who needed every bit of the protection they offered and tested every bit of there durability daily. 6 years! For my next pair I am considering Rocky HAM 13″, 6900 mining boots, Oliver 65690 mining boots, or another pair of Timberland Pro Gravel Pit but this time in 14″ because they burns start where the boot ends. I will be lacing in zippers if i get taller boots. I have also considered having my self a custom pair made with Shark, Ray, Hippo, Kangaroo, or Elephant Leather to try to get back to the classic work boot look with out sacrificing the monster durability that I require. A lot of people in my trade get away with less of a boot but most guys are smaller and don’t work as hard as I do. I’m sort of a mule on the job. I’ll easily grab 200 lbs and run through gravel and uneven terrain or up steel grating stairs with it and I crawl on concrete and jagged steel a lot inside a boiler or other tight places too. I will catch them on fire, melt the soles, use the toe like a hammer on steel, Drop heavy steel on them often sharp or even rest steel on them to get a fork lift out. drown them in puddles of not always water (Black Liqueur, Diesel fuel, Lime, Acid, fly ash, coal dust, ect… And I want boots that handle all of that while keeping my feet safe and cozy and not tearing up. The ones I am replacing have done all of that and more but if possible i’d like to try something new (6 years). Any advise?

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